FIFA on SWC tickets alert

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Soccer World Cup 2014 (File)

Rio de Janeiro - Around 130 companies are being investigated for selling World Cup tickets on the black market with football's governing body Fifa claiming that some are being offered with a staggering 300 percent mark-up.

Match Services AG, which is the Fifa-sanctioned commercial outlet, confirmed reports in the Brazilian media that some 130 companies and operators are under investigation for offering unauthorised deals.

Some of these already face judicial action in their own countries.

Match Services AG indicated to AFP it was aware of companies offering packages on the black market at vastly marked up prices.

The Estado de Sao Paulo daily quoted their legal counsel Imran Patel as saying "we are seeing a huge black market with prices of up to 300 percent above face value".

Tickets for next year's World Cup are available solely via the Fifa website.

Match Services, which is offering VIP packages, many to companies, had indicated prior to last week's World Cup draw that it believed around 100 firms were seeking to scalp punters.

However, they claim they have since uncovered evidence of another 30 cases.

According to Estado de Sao Paulo, authorities in Costa Rica have already fined four agencies in the country for claiming they could offer packages to fans wanting to follow the Central American team at the event.

A dozen Mexican operators have been issued with warnings to stop while consumer protection authorities have launched legal action against six.

Other unauthorized operators are at work in several other countries, including Australia and China, Estado reported.

Patel said Fifa is aware which firms are involved and is ready to take legal action in Brazil where necessary.